I think I officially hate Dwight Howard

[Celtic]

I don't hate him, bit I am definitely not a fan of his. I agree with everyone who said he isn't funny, he has never said anything even remotely funny that I have heard. Just because you say something and end it with a smile, doesn't make it a joke.

As has been said before, the Clark Kent-Superman halftime interview was a complete embarrassment, and all involved should be ashamed of themselves. One of the dumbest things I have ever seen and a bad look for the NBA.

Thanks to whoever called him Supergirl, that is officially his new nickname, much better than Duhwight.

If he were to show any effort at becoming a better basketball player I would probably feel differently. The man's offense literally consists of a dunk. He is not a good positional rebounder he usually just fouls to get said rebounds. If he were to try at all to develop some semblance of an offensive skill set he could be a star, until then he is just an athlete with potential.

[guava_wrench]

I must say, I kind of like the guy. He plays hard but he aways looks like he's having a good time on the court. He doesn't spend a lot of time arguing calls with the refs, even when he's jocked. I don't see him talking trash to the other team. Sure some of the stuff he does can be annoying but in general he comes off as being that pleasent happy-go-lucky fellow I wouldn't mind having a beer with. I really don't see anything to hate about him, but than again, I don't really hate any athlete unless they have done something really bad. Re; Rothenberg.

The "looks like he's having a good time" thing is what bugs me.  He doesn't seem to have that killer instinct.  I can't imagine KG and Pierce giggling and dancing in the middle of a potential huge loss.   So what we have is a big physical freak who doesn't really care.

I don't think killer instinct makes a difference if you don't have the skills to take over.

Maybe one day he will have those skills, but as of now, it is easy for him to try to do to much and to kill his team.

Killer instinct won't make the shots go in if you lack the skill.

[celticinorlando]

he is a very dirty player

[Q_FBE]

Dwight Howard has improved his low post skills and his FT shooting. He is a great shot blocker. He can be a great rebounder.

However, his mental discipline is where he comes up short and knocking Pierce, Rondo, and Ray Allen on their kiesters has only fired up the Celtics even more.

Sheed has taken Howard off his game, too. The fact we can defend him one on one with three or four players has really helped our defense and rebounding and made the difference so far.

I don't hate the young fellow. I just think he is a bit overrated at this point in his career.

[FallGuy]

I don't hate him, bit I am definitely not a fan of his. I agree with everyone who said he isn't funny, he has never said anything even remotely funny that I have heard. Just because you say something and end it with a smile, doesn't make it a joke.

As has been said before, the Clark Kent-Superman halftime interview was a complete embarrassment, and all involved should be ashamed of themselves. One of the dumbest things I have ever seen and a bad look for the NBA.

Thanks to whoever called him Supergirl, that is officially his new nickname, much better than Duhwight.

If he were to show any effort at becoming a better basketball player I would probably feel differently. The man's offense literally consists of a dunk. He is not a good positional rebounder he usually just fouls to get said rebounds. If he were to try at all to develop some semblance of an offensive skill set he could be a star, until then he is just an athlete with potential.

I think you're being a bit harsh on his effort. He's definitely put in time this year developing his post game. That's been well-reported as the season has progressed. That his offensive game is not incredibly effective against our elite inside D doesn't undo the work he's put in. And he has been very effective in the playoffs up till now.

That said, JVG made a good point on WEEI this week. He suggested the Dwight simply isn't now, and may never be, the kind of player you can run an offense through. This is the biggest argument against him as a #1 on a title team, IMO.

[KCattheStripe]

If the Magic lose these playoffs the new nickname for Dwight Howard is Supergirl (actually Supergirl could kick his wazoo and it's not nice to girls, but still. Hmmm. Maybe SuperBad.)

And Perk's new nickname is Kryptonite.

And Sheed's is Lex Luther.

And Rashard Lewis is Lois Lane.

Sheed is Doomsday.

[Frezz]

He's a flashy Dikembe Mutombo.

[KCattheStripe]

Something about his over reliance on his athleticism also bugs me... (same reason a lot of people use to hate Shaq... not much skill).

And those people were wrong.

[Drucci]

I totally agree with the OP. I didn't have a problem with Dwight at first but as times goes on I find him more and more annoying. And I think he is really overrated ; he is great defensively, don't get me wrong, but his offense is non existent and he isn't a clutch player or a player that worries me the least offensively (I'm more worried when Gortat is on the court actually).

His "always smiling" attitude doesn't bother me that much (I mean, it's all good for us after all, I don't care he is a true "killer" or not) but his constant whining to the refs and his arrogant statements/attitude is annoying. His ridiculous interview last Sunday was just pathetic, he tried to be funny but it was just awful and embarrassing for him.

I don't like the fact that he calls himself Superman. I found his little show at the SDC funny, with his costume, etc, but to go as far as doing a Clark Kent/Superman interview with himself... wow.

I also dislike his attitude when he loses, he gets dirty and tries to play the "shocked" card.

[RAcker]

Everybody makes mistakes Christian or not. If he's going around talking judgmental about people who have sex before marriage, then I would agree with you. If he goes around saying he's a perfect christian you would also have a point. But I havn't heard him say that sort of stuff.

It doesn't make him a hypocrite becuase he fell short and drifted away from his values. It makes him a sinner and not perftect, like the rest of us.

Every christain does things the Bible says not to do. How they handle it determines if thy are a hypocrite or not.

TP.  Nicely put.

I still can't stand Dwight Howard though.   

[BballTim]

Dwight Howard has improved his low post skills and his FT shooting. He is a great shot blocker. He can be a great rebounder.

  I don't think his low post skills are that much better, at least no to the point that they've improved at all statistically. And his foul shooting has held pretty steady since his 2nd year.

[FallGuy]

I totally agree with the OP. I didn't have a problem with Dwight at first but as times goes on I find him more and more annoying. And I think he is really overrated ; he is great defensively, don't get me wrong, but his offense is non existent and he isn't a clutch player or a player that worries me the least offensively (I'm more worried when Gortat is on the court actually).

No offense but your comment about his offense being non-existent is demonstrably false.

63% TS
24.15 PER

I think you're confusing his lack of a refined post game as lack of offense. That's like saying because Rondo can't shoot he has no offensive game. It may not be pretty (okay, it's definitely not pretty) but getting great post position and then turning and dunking over your defender is incredibly efficient offense.

[FallGuy]

If the Magic lose these playoffs the new nickname for Dwight Howard is Supergirl (actually Supergirl could kick his wazoo and it's not nice to girls, but still. Hmmm. Maybe SuperBad.)

And Perk's new nickname is Kryptonite.

And Sheed's is Lex Luther.

And Rashard Lewis is Lois Lane.

Sheed is Doomsday.

By the way, nice comic book reference. I salute (and join you) in your geekery!

[Bankshot]

I've gotta say that interview with himself was one of the dumbest things I've seen.  He's not nearly as funny as he thinks he is.

I also hate how he thinks he's superman when Shaq was 10x the baller he'll ever be.  And he's actually funny.

Why doesn't someone tell him he's not funny? Why doesn't someone tell him he's a terrible actor?  He's embarrassing himself.

you wanna tell the guy?

I'd like to, but I'd never get near the guy.  Someone close to him, like someone in his family should tell him.

[Birdbrain]

This was kind of a slow progression with me.  I use to like Dwight Howard... but it's suddenly dawned on me... I can't stand that punk.   I know a lot of fans here can't stand LeBron James and like to spew their hatred constantly.  I never shared that.  I don't have a problem with Bron.  The guy is good.  I respect his game.   

Dwight Howard really rubs me the wrong way, though.   I think it started sometime last year in a random regular-season Magic/Celtics game.   Dwight started off the game by making a couple baskets... and then ran up the court dramatically looking at his hand like "oh my god, I'm incredible"... I've seen Shaq do this kind of thing comically as well, but this was after literally 2 baskets in a big game against Boston.  Perk shut him down the rest of the way.  He finished the game something like 3-9 from the floor and the Magic lost.  That was strike one, for me.

Then I see his pre-game dance routine before game 1 against Boston.  Then I see him smiling and giggling in the middle of a crucial game 2 that they were LOSING... and I start to have zero respect for the guy and his "happy-go-lucky" attitude in the middle of the playoffs.  When he gets frustrated, he gets a flagrant against Pierce... but he's still skipping and smiling all the way to a 2nd loss. 

Something about his over reliance on his athleticism also bugs me... (same reason a lot of people use to hate Shaq... not much skill).

It also annoyed me the media FLIPPED OUT over his "superman" dunk that wasn't even a dunk.   Then the next year in the dunk contest the entire thing was a Dwight Howard love-fest. They seriously tried to force him down every fan's throat.  I don't like Nate Robinson, but I enjoyed that Dwight lost that dunk contest.  I had never seen the NBA so desperately forcing a player on their fanbase like that.

It also bugs me that his entire image revolves around being a hyper jesus freak who listens to gospel music, went to a christian school, goes to church every week and likes to quote bible passages in his post-game interviews... but the guy knocked up some skanky Orlando Magic dancer named Royce Reed.  I don't have much of a soft spot for hypocritical religious nuts.  That definitely weighs into my view of him as a person.   Is anyone really going to be surprised if in a few years there's a major Dwight Howard scandal?  My money is on it being steroid or sex related.  Maybe I'm cynical with the Tiger Woods and Kobe Bryants of the world, but I can't trust athletes who are marketed as squeeky-clean christian superstars anymore.  My instincts tell me he's about as "real" as Hulk Hogan.

There... some irrational, over-the-top hate.  Maybe I can join the club with all the Bron haters out there who flip out over his treatment of ballboys.   It's kinda fun... every fan should have at least one player in the NBA they officially hate.     

I share your overall opinion about Howard.  He's even faker than Kobe because at least Kobe doesn't smile as much.  Regarding the point you made about him giggling during crunch time.  I was actually upset about that.  I mean it's counterintutive to be mad because a defender on the opponents team is clowning around during a crucial point in the ECF but, I was.  If I was a Magic fan I would have been irate.

Juxtapose this imbeciles personality with KGs... lol.